Letter to Virat Kohli

For the uninitiated, here’s why Kohli was in the eye of a storm on Social Media yesterday. The 30-year-old was reading out tweets when he came across one which described Kohli, currently the top ranked test and ODI batsman, as “overrated” and that Australian and English batsmen were more pleasing to watch than “these Indians”.

“I don’t think you should live in India then,” Kohli, who has 27.1 million followers on Twitter, said in a video posted on his new app to sell exclusive merchandise.

“You should go and live somewhere else, you know. Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don’t mind you not liking me but I don’t think you should live in our country. Get your priorities right,” he added with a wry smile.

Now, here’s my letter to Kohli in this context.

Dear Skipper,

First things first. I am one of your biggest ever followers/fans. I track your records very closely and I carry immense sense of pride that an Indian is currently topping the ICC ODI AND Test Rankings at the same time. Your run of form over the past 3 years has been INSANE to say the least. Please keep it going and bring us glory at Lord’s in 2019.

I do not think you are “over-rated”. I think you deserve all the praise you’re getting and more. You’re the best thing to have happened to Indian Cricket since Dhoni. Under you, Indian Cricket is in safe hands.

While this is my opinion and many millions of Indians might agree to it, there is a possibility few 10s of thousands could have a contrary point of view. All of us as humans have our own likes and dislikes. I like Chole Bhatoora, while my friend from Chennai living in Delhi might not. He might like Idly Sambhar. It is unfair to ask him to go and settle in Chennai because he doesn’t like Chole Bhatoora. We’re a diverse country after all and that has been one of our biggest strengths.

I follow Tennis and Roger Federer is my Idol. He is not an Indian and I don’t like Leader Paes as much as I like Roger Federer. But Leander Paes cannot ask me to go and live in Switzerland because I like Federer more than him or other Indians.

You follow Football. Don’t you think Germans, French are more pleasing to watch when compared to Indians? By thinking so, basis your own logic, you should settle in Paris or Heidelberg.

Let’s take your own example. There are millions of non-Indian Cricket followers who idolize you. Do you expect them to abandon their country and come and settle in India?

You’re the best in the World when your bat does the talking. Let it be that way. I hope you have a great tour of Australia ahead. Wishing you only the best.